12:7Endureyour suffering7asdiscipline;8Godis treatingyouassons. Forwhatsonis there thata fatherdoesnotdiscipline?12:8Butifyou do notexperience discipline,9something all sons10have sharedin, thenyou are illegitimateandarenotsons.12:9Besides, we have experienceddisciplinefrom11 ourearthlyfathers12andwe respectedthem; shall wenotsubmitourselves all the moreto the Fatherof spiritsandreceive life?1312:10Forthey disciplinedus fora little whileasseemedgood to them, buthe does so forour benefit, that we may sharehisholiness.12:11Nowalldisciplineseemspainfulat the time, notjoyful.14Butlaterit producesthe fruitof peaceand righteousness15for those trainedbyit.12:12Therefore, strengthen16your listlesshandsandyour weakknees,1712:13andmakestraightpathsfor yourfeet,18 so thatwhat is lamemaynotbe put out of jointbutbe healed.

Do Not Reject God’s Warning

12:14Pursuepeacewitheveryone, andholiness,19for withoutit no onewill seethe Lord.12:15Seeto it that noonecomes shortofthe graceof God, that noonebe likea bitterrootspringing up20and causing trouble, andthroughhimmanybecome defiled.12:16And see to it that noonebecomes21 an immoralorgodless personlikeEsau, whosoldhis ownbirthrightfora singlemeal.2212:17Foryou knowthat23laterwhenhe wantedto inheritthe blessing, he was rejected, forhe foundnoopportunityfor repentance, althoughhe soughtthe blessing24withtears.12:18Foryou havenotcome tosomething that can be touched,25to a burningfireanddarknessandgloomanda whirlwind12:19andthe blastof a trumpetanda voiceuttering words26such that those who heardbeggedto hearno more.2712:20Forthey couldnotbearwhat was commanded: “Ifeven an animaltouchesthe mountain, it must be stoned.”2812:21In fact, the scene29wassoterrifyingthat Mosessaid, “Ishudderwith fear.”3012:22Butyou have cometo MountZion, the city31of the livingGod, the heavenlyJerusalem, andto myriadsof angels, to the assembly12:23andcongregationof the firstborn, who are enrolledinheaven, andto God, the judgeof all, andto the spiritsof the righteous, who have been made perfect,12:24andto Jesus, the mediator32of a newcovenant, andto the sprinkledbloodthat speaksof something betterthanAbel’sdoes.33

12:25Take carenotto refusethe one who is speaking! Forifthey didnotescapewhenthey refusedthe one who warnedthem onearth, how much lessshall we, if we rejectthe one who warns fromheaven?12:26Thenhis voiceshookthe earth, butnowhe has promised, “Iwilloncemoreshakenotonlythe earthbutheaventoo.”3412:27Now this phrase “oncemore” indicatesthe removalof what is shaken, that is, of created things, so thatwhat is unshakenmay remain.12:28Sosincewe are receivingan unshakablekingdom, let us givethanks, and throughthislet us offer worshippleasingto Godindevotionandawe.12:29ForourGodis indeed a devouringfire.35